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Steveston Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat at Steveston Festival

The second of two major dragon boat race events in Metro Vancouver each year, the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival takes place in Steveston Village in August.

In 2023 the event happened on August 19th. The event happens again in 2024 on August 24th.

Other events that happen around the same time elsewhere in the Lower Mainland include the PNE Fair, Irish Fusion Festival and Dance Dance Dance in Vancouver. In the Fraser Valley there is also Ribfest Langley, Symphony in the Park in Abbotsford, Chilliwack Flight Fest, the Chilliwack Pride FestivalChilliwack Corn Maze and Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival

 

Langley Ribfest

 


This article contains the following information about the festival:

Dragon Boating Location | Festival Schedule | Entertainment Schedule | Dragon Boat Racing Details | Advice and Suggestions | Other Information


 

StayVancouverHotels.com

 

Dragon Boat Racing in Steveston Village

The regatta is a one-day festival which in 2023 happened on Saturday, August 19th. That was a week before the Richmond Maritime Festival which happened close by on the Saturday and Sunday of August 26th and 27th.

Another similar event is the much larger Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival which is a three-day event. It usually happens in False Creek near Science World in mid-June.

 

Dragon Boating Location

The Steveston Dragon Boat Festival takes place in Richmond‘s Steveston Village between the Britannia Heritage Shipyard and Imperial Landing. The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is located at 5180 Westwater Drive. Imperial Landing, meanwhile, is at 4000 Bayview Street further to the west.

 

Festival Schedule

Below was the schedule of events for the 2023 Steveston Dragon Boat Festival. This schedule will likely be similar when the event returns in 2024.

  • 9:00 am – Dragon Boat races begin
  • 10:00 am – Food and market vendor stalls open
  • 11:00 am – Main Stage entertainment begins
  • 12:00 pm – Beer Garden opens
  • 7:30 pm – Festival ends

 

Steveston Dragon Boat Crowds

 

Entertainment Schedule

Every year there is live music and other entertainment on the main stage. Below was the schedule for 2023. For the most up-to-date details visit the Steveston Dragon Boat website.

  • 11:00 am – Coastal Wolf Pack
  • 12:30 pm – Hon Hsing Athletic Club Lion Dances
  • 2:00 pm – Ginalina Presents: Sun Moon Lake Trio
  • 3:00 pm – Rachel Carino
  • 4:00 pm – Hayley Wallis and the Bright Futures
  • 5:00 pm – Luc LeMans

 

Harrison Sunflower Festival

Chilliwack Pride Festival

 

Dragon Boat Racing Details

At the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival many teams compete in races that are 250 metres and 500 metres in distance. Each boat has about 20 paddlers plus a steerer and a drummer. Eighty teams competed in 2023.

The cost for participation is about $1,100 for women and co-ed teams, $900 for seniors (co-ed teams and women) and $500 for juniors (of 12-18 years of age). Early bird registration discounts are also available most years.

 

Dragon Boat Paddlers at Steveston Village

 

Advice & Tips

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to Steveston Village and the Richmond Dragon Boat Festival.

TIP #1: Parking is available starting at 7:00 am for race participants at the T Homma School. It’s right by the Britannia Heritage Shipyard at 5180 Westwater Drive. The cost is about $5 with proceeds going to the Richmond Food Bank. Spaces are limited so plan to carpool.

TIP #2: Steveston Village is a beautiful and very interesting place. There is a walking and cycling path that goes for miles all along the water. The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is itself a National Historic Site, as is the Gulf of Georgia Cannery located in the heart of Steveston Village. While you’re in the area, get out and explore!

TIP #3: Also taking place in Richmond on Saturday is the Richmond Night Market which costs around $5 and is located at 8351 River Road not far from the Bridgeport SkyTrain Station. Especially if you’ve never been, and you like markets, it’s worth checking out.

TIP #4: If you want to compete in the dragon boat racing, register well in advance as the event sells out well before race day.

 

Other Information

For further details about the regatta, see the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival website.

To learn about a related race in August in Vancouver, click Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival.

For information about the area see Steveston Village or Britannia Heritage Shipyard.

And for information on other major events in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s August Calendar or Festivals & Events Calendar.